Illustration Friday: worn

My submission for Illustration Friday's "worn" is a 3" x 3" mini canvas for the Art House Canvas Project 2 . The word for this image is "Nocturne" and you can see my little friend Tar the cat is worn out from chasing the fireflies.

I know a few artists here in LA that did paintings for Michael Jackson. He was a great lover of art and really admired excellent craftsmanship, artistry, intricacy and deeply detailed works. He was a big supporter of art and artists. The Jackson clan moved to Encino in the early 70's so his family's home is very close to Topanga. I hope he is dancing and singing in peace.

copyright 2009 Valerie Walsh Photo of Topanga Tar in Tree

Illustration Friday: Drifting

My submission for Illustration Friday's "Drifting" is one of my Marisol Hidden Treasure greeting cards. It has a gift certificate inviting the recipient to dinner. So after you drift, you have dinner, how perfect.

copyright 1994 Valerie Walsh/Marisol

Illustration Friday: unfold

My submission for Illustration Friday's "unfold" theme is a diecut valgal card that celebrates love. The message is clear but the card is a little unique in the design. I love making cuts and folds, it makes the card a bit more special. I have included a few views here: 1.the original illustration and a copy of the card 2. closeups of the image 3. card folds and unfold.

copyright 2004 Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: craving

My submission for Illustration Friday's "craving" is "Soda Shoppe" an illustration that is an interior , yes, but it is a room for a building in my ValerieGallerie site that is used to house my greeting card section. This is a slightly different version that shows what Babs the cat is craving. A wonderful guy named Brian Coughlin helped me make my site and I will never forget his patience, kindness and generosity. He is a member of the band "Kinch" and a very multi-talented young man.

I was in Washington for 7 days and I hung with my pal Louie and we took many beautiful walks together.

copyright 2004 Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: adapt

My submission for Illustration Friday's "adapt" theme is a colour study (prismacolor on Arches) called "Cat House". This is a piece I made in 1989 and a guy that collected my art had to have it so this is a scan of a 35 milimeter slide and this accounts for the quality of the image...

We all need to embrace our differences and adapt to our surroundings.

copyright 1989 Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: cracked

Sidewalks are cracked. My submission for Illustration Friday's "cracked" theme is one of my valgal business cards. Cracked sidewalks remind me of skating, biking and childhood fun. Hopscotch anyone?

I hope everyone has a nice Memorial weekend. Topanga is a fun place to share in the festivities because we have Topanga Days Fair a 3-day celebration with bands, games, food, sellers and dancing. It is a long standing tradition to attend the parade on Monday and all the kids, dogs, and adults enjoy themselves and the main boulevard is closed to traffic so all the floats and even our Firetruck 69 can attend. If you click on this link and go to the tab marked Topanga Days you can see the fair in 1979 and in 1999. A 20 year span and it seems the same :)

http://www.anastasiafite.com/

Illustration Friday: contagious

My submission for Illustration Friday's "contagious" is a small illustration titled "Home Sick". This little house has the chicken pox and is very contagious so don't just pop over or you might catch some.

copyright 2009 Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: parade

This parade was for the ladies. As the first Gondolier made his way towards the town you could feel the excitement build. I made this painting in 1993 and in 1994 John and I drove to Washington and delivered this and 6 more paintings and ceramics to the Chase family home. They have a beautiful, modern home decorated in all of my colours and everything looked amazing!!! We helped them hang all the paintings and this one was hung above their bed. Only one piece broke on the trip but I brought an extra painting and it all worked out. My submission for Illustration Friday's "parade" is titled "Gondoleer".

copyright 1993 Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: hierarchy

Because of her place in the hierarchy, the King awarded the Princess her own castle. This layered dimensional painting was done for the Walker family in Washington. They commissioned 2 paintings, one for each daughter and this was for Amira. She loves lambs, butterflies, hearts, flowers, birds, etc. Also they wanted an image to represent the meaning of her name.
The girl's name Amira \a-mi-ra\ is pronounced ah-MEER-ah. It is of Arabic and Hebrew origin, and its meaning is "princess. Feminine form of Amir. My submission for Illustration Friday's "hierarchy" theme.

copyright 1994 Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: Theater

Another blast from my past and from the show I had called "Five Easy Pieces"in 1987. This dimensional painting is called "Vanity" and suits today's Illustration Friday theme "Theater". I wish I had more pictures of it but it sold long ago and was way before I had a digital camera. There are many little details like a compact with mirror and a tube of lipstick on the vanity, ashtray with a burning cigarette and a small hand mirror. copyright 1987 Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: impossibility

My submission for Illustration Friday's "impossibility" is a dimensional painting that I created for a family in Brentwood, CA. They commissioned many paintings and always encouraged me to make unusual and unique works for them. It was awesome to make large paintings and get to be kind of "out there" with my ideas and techniques. This image is another version of "Flying Home" but on a magic carpet with paper I made and molded to hold the house. I even sewed little tassels on the edges. The boulders and water are made from wood and I used prismacolor pencils for the jewel like tones in the rocks and painted over the color pencil than scratched away the paint to get the stone like quality. The idea of a flying house might seem impossible but is it? We have been taught that anything is possible, right?

copyright 1995 Valerie Walsh

wood, paper, thread, prismacolor pencila, acrylic paint, foam board.

Illustration Friday: Fleeting

Childhood is fleeting. My submission for Illustration Friday's "Fleeting" theme is a dimensional painting for Rady Children's Hospital auction on April 21st. The title of this painting is "Happy Home". I loved making it and hope it goes to a happy home and benefits a child who needs care.

Happy Easter or Passover or both :)



copyright 2009 Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: talisman

My talisman is a house key. A skeleton key that might have a past, some history. From a home that was lived in and loved in. Maybe it doesn't exist any more except in the memories of a former occupant, but the humble key remains.

My submission for Illustration Friday's "talisman" is "Housekey" made from clay,paint and handmade paper.

Copyright 2009 Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: poise

My submission for Illustration Friday's "poise" is a dimensional painting that was in a show I had called "Five Easy Pieces". All the paintings were dimensional and each one represented a word and a piece of furniture. The paintings were Vanity, Charity, Chastity,Sinkronicity and this is called "Stability" and this is the painting hanging on a wall, I only mention it because you might think it is laying down but it is vertical. It is 20" x 40" and it is 5" deep.

I can't seem to scan film real well,I am not sure how to size it becaue it is scanned at 2700 dpi and reduced down. This doesn't capture all the details. I could use some tips if anybody has some :)

copyright 1987 Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: subtract

If you subtract the background it becomes an easel back greeting card. My submisssion for Illustration Friday's "subtract" is an Egg House from my Applesaucey kids card line.

We dog sat Nomi for 6 days, she is the most well behaved love bug and she was Ratty's friend :)

copyright 2000 Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: Legendary

The idea of the woman who lived in the shoe is a legendary story and my submission for Illustration Friday's "Legendary " theme. This is how her shoe would look if it were plopped down in the San Fernando Valley. Possibly in a tract home setting with a spanish influence. It looks like it fit's right in!

copyright 2009 Valerie Walsh

Happy Birthday Dee Dee xoxoxoxoxo

Illustration Friday: Intricate

My submission for Illustration Friday's "Intricate" theme is my last full colour illustration for the book I created for the Art House Sketchbook project. We like to think we are complex and intricate but deep down, everyone we know needs to feel that he is home free. Stonehenge paper and acrylic paint.

copyright 2009 Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: breezy

My submission for Illustration Friday's "breezy" is from my moleskine for the Art House Sketch Book Project. I am not sure if this image really portray's "breezy but I have been sick with the flu all week and I am slightly delirious. I apologize to all of the wonderful artists that came to see my work and wished me a Happy Birthday. I was so ill I couldn't go online and comment back to you. I will visit each of you and can't wait to see what everybody is up to. Tonight is the opening of the Sketch Book show in Atlanta and then it will travel around. If you get a chance, check it out.

copyright 2009 Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: instinct

Was it instinct that made her load up the car and head toward the woods? My submission for Illustration Friday's "instinct" theme is from my moleskine for the ArtHouse Sketch Book Project.

I was pleasantly surprised by this in my inbox yesterday , can you spot my image among all the beautiful things? And I turn 50 this weekend too :)

copyright 2009 Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: Celebrate

After my dog Rat died I wanted to create something to celebrate his life. I made this funny little card that is house shaped and a little Topanga stamp to fit on the chimney. This card is a love letter to Rat. A month to the day he died a little black cat showed up every night and he would pop in through our cat door and bite my toes urging me to feed him! I named him Tar, Rat spelled backwards because he is black as tar. I found out his real name is Red and he has a wonderful family.When you open the door to this card Red or Tar is sitting there to greet you. I wanted Rat to know that this cat was checking up on me every night and that I was ok. I sent it out into the world and maybe it found it's way into someone's heart. My submission for Illustration Friday's "Celebrate" theme is a handmade card celebrating the life of my faithful companion.

I hope everyone has a Happy Valentine's Day and celebrate your loved ones.

copyright 2008 Valerie Walsh